4K Digital Review: Nightmare Alley

 

Nightmare Alley is adapted from the novel of the same name by Lindsay Gresham and the basis for the 1947 movie starring Tyrone Power. The 1947 movie is considered to be one of the greatest in film noir. This time is it director Guillermo del Toro's take and it is easily his most beautiful film yet to date.  

The film opens with a mysterious scene and Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) is on the run. He ends up at a traveling carnival, where the carnival's barker (Willem Dafoe) finds him a job. Soon he becomes friends with Zeena "The Seer" (Toni Collette) and her husband Pete (David Strathairn) and becomes part of their act. Stanton learns their secrets and leaves with Molly (Rooney Mara), an innocent young women who also has an act at the carnival. 

Less than a decade later, Stanton and Molly have a mentalist act that lures in the socially elite. At one of the shows, they meet Dr. Lilith Ritter (Cate Blanchett) who is out to disprove his abilities. Will this be the end of the scam or just the start? This is now a battle to the finish. 

Audio

The Dolby Atmos track is perfect considering the film's genre of film noir.  So don't expect a lot of attention-grabbing sounds but the use of creating depth using the score as well as atmosphere and other sound effects draw you further into the movie without causing any distractions. 

Video

The streaming 4K video is fantastic with incredible detail and visual depth. With the use of many sequences of the film using close-ups the richness of the details shine. The skintones, costumes and sets are superbly rendered. The use of shadows and lighting look very natural. 

Bonus Features

• Del Toro’s Neo Noir – Writer-director Guillermo del Toro and his standout cast decipher the dark, complicated world of Nightmare Alley. The filmmaker reveals how his take on noir is rooted in classic cinema but offers an accessible, modern narrative.
• Beneath the Tarp – Production designer Tamara Deverell and her talented team skillfully delivered both a decaying traveling carnival world and a gilded Art Deco high society with striking visuals. We explore how this design supported del Toro’s genre-bending filmmaking.
• What Exists in the Fringe – Costume designer Luis Sequeira unravels his collaboration with Guillermo del Toro and reveals the symbolism that’s constantly at play in the film’s carefully crafted wardrobe’s design.

Conclusion

Nightmare Alley is a beautiful journey into film noir. The video quality is wonderful and the audio mix draws you further into the film. There is a fair offering of bonus features. You owe it to yourself to add this to your collection.

Nightmare Alley is now available on Digital and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD on March 22. 

*disclaimer: the digital copy was provided to me by Walt Disney Home Entertainment for the purpose of review but the opinions are strictly mine alone*

Marvel Studios' Thor: Ragnarok Strikes Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere on Feb. 20 and 4K Ultra HD™ and Blu-ray™ on March 6

“The most fun you’ll ever have at a Marvel movie”

-- PeterTravers, Rolling Stone

“One of the most entertaining blockbusters of the year”

-- Claton Davis, Awards Circuit

BRING HOME ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPER HERO MOVIE OF 2017

“THOR: RAGNAROK”

Strikes Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ and Movies Anywhere on Feb. 20

and 4K Ultra HD™ and Blu-ray™ on March 6

BURBANK, Calif., Jan. 10, 2018 — Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” the God of Thunder’s third installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, electrified both audiences and critics alike reaching over $845M at the global box office. Now the colorful cosmic adventure, loaded with action, humor, drama and spectacle, bursts into homes Digitally in HD and 4K Ultra HD™, and Movies Anywhere, on Feb. 20 and on 4K Ultra HD™, Blu-ray™, DVD and On-Demand on March. 6.

In Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok,” Thor (Chris Hemsworth) is imprisoned on the other side of the universe without his mighty hammer and finds himself in a race against time to get back to Asgard to stop Ragnarok – the destruction of his home world and the end of Asgardian civilization – at the hands of an all-powerful new threat, the ruthless Hela (Cate Blanchett). But first he must survive a deadly gladiatorial contest that pits him against his former ally and fellow Avenger – the Incredible Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) – and grapple with his silver-tongued adopted brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston), the fierce warrior Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and the eccentric Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum). 

Fans who bring home the Ultimate Cinematic Universe Edition (4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital) of “Thor: Ragnarok” will experience all the thunderous action and lightning-fast wit in stunning 4K Ultra HD with next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) visuals and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Exclusive, never-before-seen bonus features include deleted scenes; hilarious outtakes; an exclusive short: part three of the mockumentary “Team Thor,” retitled “Team Darryl” and featuring an eccentric new roommate; the evolution of MCU’s heroes culminating in “Avengers: Infinity War;” numerous making-of featurettes which explore the unique vision of director Taika Waititi; the story’s unstoppable women; the effortlessly charismatic Korg; the tyrannical leader of Sakaar, the Grandmaster; and the film’s comic-book origins;  audio commentary by Waititi; and more.

BONUS MATERIAL (may vary by retailer):

Blu-ray:

• Director’s Introduction
• Deleted/Extended Scenes - Deleted Scenes: The Sorcerer Supreme, Skurge Finds Heimdall & Hulk Chases Thor Through Sakaar and Extended Scenes: Thor Meets the Grandmaster, Stupid Avenger vs. Tiny Avenger & Grandmaster and Topaz
• Gag Reel - Watch a collection of goofs, gaffes and pratfalls starring the cast
• Exclusive Short/Team Darryl – Fresh off being unseated as the ruler of Sakaar, the Grandmaster makes his way to Earth to start a new life. It’s been over a year since Thor left Australia and Darryl has been struggling to pay his rent. Now Darryl needs a new roommate to help make the monthly payments. Unfortunately for Darryl, the Grandmaster was the only one who answered Darryl’s “Roommate Needed” ad and with no viable options, the Grandmaster moves in.
• Marvel Studios: The First Ten Years - The Evolution of Heroes – Marvel’s universe is vast and transcends both time and space. We’ll examine the Cinematic Universe as a whole and revisit each of our heroes’ current location and their place in the current MCU timeline, as it all leads up to the one culminating event: “Avengers: Infinity War.”
• Getting in Touch with Your Inner Thor – “Thor: Ragnarok” director Taika Waititi has brought his unique sensibility and sense of humor to the film in a great many ways but it is the evolution of Thor’s own sense of humor, which stands out the most in the new film. This piece explores the impact Chris Hemsworth has made on the development of his widely-loved character and celebrates the mighty cast and crew who reveal the fun and hard work that went into assembling Thor’s eccentric counterparts.
• Unstoppable Women: Hela & Valkyrie – This piece explores the strong female characters in “Thor: Ragnarok,” their importance in the MCU, their incredible casting and their epic comic origins.
• Finding Korg – A tongue-in-cheek interview with Taika on casting Korg. He describes the difficult search for just the right evolution of the character design, and the nuances of this instantly classic character in the MCU. This conversation will also delve into all the extraordinary visual effects that brought Korg, Sakaar and the worlds of “Thor: Ragnarok” to life.
• Sakaar: On the Edge of the Known and Unknown – Sakaar is the collection point for all lost and unloved things. This documentary will answer all known and unknown questions while also exploring the hard work and creativity that went into creating the look and feel of Sakaar. From design inspired by Jack Kirby’s classic artwork to the dedication of the visual development team to the awe-inspiring physical and digital production, you will see this distant world come alive.
• Journey into Mystery – A deep dive story piece with the writers, director and producer Kevin Feige about the inspirations for “Thor: Ragnarok” within the comics. Most notably, the contest of champions limited series where the Grandmaster pitted our favorite heroes against one another as he does in the film. This piece also further explores Thor’s comic book origins and classic arcs through interviews with some of the most important comic creators, such as Walt Simonson and Jack Kirby.
• 8bit Scenes - Final Bridge Battle + Sakaar Spaceship Battle. Dive into these climactic sequences presented in retro video-game format.
• Directors Commentary

Digital Exclusives:

• Evolution of Thor and Hulk’s Bromance – We’ll examine this Super Hero friendship, which has spanned through several Marvel films. From their original Helicarrier fight match to the now iconic Hulk punch from Avengers 1, see how Marvel’s most powerful Super Heroes become the most extraordinary Super Hero buddies.
• Additional Deleted Scenes – Travel to Asgard & Race To The Wormhole

DISC SPECIFICATIONS (applies to film content only):

Product SKUs:   Cinematic Universe Edition (4K UHD+Blu-ray+Digital), Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray+DVD+Digital), Digital HD/SD/4K UHD, DVD and On-Demand

Feature Run Time: Approximately 130 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Aspect Ratio: 2.39:1

Audio:   

UHD BD: English Dolby Atmos 7.1.4, English & Spanish 7.1 Dolby Digital Plus, French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital

Blu-ray: English 7.1 DTS-HDMA, Spanish & French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital

DVD: English, Spanish & French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital

Digital UHD: English Dolby Atmos 7.1.4, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital

Digital HD: English & French Canadian 5.1 Dolby Digital, Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital, English DVS 2.0 Dolby Digital

Languages/Subtitles:               UHD BD: English SDH, Spanish, French Canadian

Blu-ray: English SDH, Spanish, French Canadian

DVD: English SDH & CC, Spanish, French Canadian

Digital UHD: English CC, Spanish, French Canadian

Digital HD: English CC, Spanish, French Canadian

SOCIAL MEDIA:

Facebook: Facebook.com/MarvelStudios

Twitter: Twitter.com/MarvelStudios

Instagram: Instagram.com/MarvelStudios

“THOR: RAGNAROK” CAST & CREW

“Thor: Ragnarok” features a star-studded cast that includes Chris Hemsworth (“Rush,” “In the Heart of the Sea”) who returns to the title role of the hammer-wielding hero of Asgard. He is joined by Golden Globe® winner Tom Hiddleston (“The Night Manager,” “Kong: Skull Island”) as Thor’s duplicitous adopted brother, Loki; two-time Oscar® winner Cate Blanchett (“Blue Jasmine,” “Carol”) as the villainous Hela; Emmy® nominee and Golden Globe winner Idris Elba (“Luther,” “Pacific Rim”) as the Asgardian sentry, Heimdall; Jeff Goldblum (“Jurassic Park,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel”) as the eccentric dictator, Grandmaster, ruler of Sakaar; Tessa Thompson (“Creed,” “Selma”) as the fierce warrior, Valkyrie; Karl Urban (“Star Trek” trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King”) as Skurge, one of Asgard’s  strongest warriors; three-time Oscar nominee Mark Ruffalo (“Spotlight,” “The Kids Are All Right”), reprising his role of Bruce Banner/The Hulk from “The Avengers” and “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”; and Academy Award® winner Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence of the Lambs,” “Nixon” ) again portraying Odin, King of Asgard.

“Thor: Ragnarok” is directed by Taika Waititi and is from a screenplay by Eric Pearson and Craig Kyle & Christopher L. Yost. Kevin Feige produces and is joined by executive producers Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Brad Winderbaum, Thomas M. Hammel and Stan Lee.

Waititi assembled a talented team behind the camera that included Oscar®-winning production designer Dan Hennah (“The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies) and production designer Ra Vincent (“What We Do in the Shadows”); six-time Goya Award-winning, BAFTA-nominated cinematographer Javier Aguirresarobe, ASC (“Secretos del corazón,” “The Others”); film editor Joel Negron (“The Nice Guys,” “Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon”) award-winning costume designer Mayes C. Rubeo (“Avatar,” “Apocalypto”); VFX supervisor Jake Morrison (Marvel Studios’ “Ant-Man,” “Thor: The Dark World”) and composer Mark Mothersbaugh (“21 Jump Street,” “The Lego Movie”).

ABOUT MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT:

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy years.  Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. ©2018MARVEL

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

ABOUT MOVIES ANYWHERE (MA):

Movies Anywhere simplifies and enhances the digital movie collection and viewing experience by allowing consumers to access their favorite digital movies in one place when purchased or redeemed through participating digital retailers.  Movies Anywhere brings together the movies from Sony Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox Film, The Walt Disney Studios (including Disney, Pixar, Marvel Studios and Lucasfilm), Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Participating digital retailers at launch are Amazon Video, Google Play, iTunes and Vudu. Movies Anywhere offers a library of over 7,300 digital movies at launch, including new releases, and will continue to expand the consumer experience as more content providers, digital retailers and platforms are added. Using the free Movies Anywhere app and website, consumers can connect their Movies Anywhere account with participating digital retailers and enjoy their favorite digital movies from the comfort of their living room and across multiple devices and platforms, including Amazon Fire devices; Android devices and Android TV; Apple TV; Chromecast; iPhone, iPad and iPod touch; Roku^® devices and popular browsers. Consumers can also redeem digital copy codes found in eligible Blu-ray and DVD disc packages from participating studios and enjoy them through Movies Anywhere.  

Thor: Ragnarok - Non-Spoiler Review for one of the Best Marvel Films Yet!

Thor: Ragnarok is easily the best Thor movie yet. Not only that, it is also the best Marvel sequel to date. It is fun, it is funny and it is dramatic. As Marvel takes their superheroes into various film genres, this is the buddy action comedy film.

Combine Thor and his likability and sense of humor with the Hulk, you have some of the best dynamic interactions of any of our heroes in the MCU. The comedy is spot on each and every time. Everyone gets a great comedic moment from our heroes to the villains. This not to say that the movie is a flat-out comedy, there is still great storytelling and great heart in there as well.

Since this is a non-spoiler review, I will let you know that this film makes great use of misdirection. This misdirection helps to serve the pacing of the film. The pacing of the film is unusual and helps to create this bizarre feeling that the film went by really quickly but yet at the same time you get this overwhelming feeling of learning so much in each of the scenes.

Chris Hemsworth shines as Thor. We finally get the Thor movie that we all deserved. While I consider the first Thor movie one of the best superhero films of all-time, the second one focused on Loki so much that Hemsworth did not get the opportunity to shine in terms of his comedic talents and his charisma. The definitive Thor story had not yet been told. Marvel realized that they needed to correct this ship. They brought in director Taika Waititi, who directed a handful of small films, but showcased his talents. His films allow the characters relationships and interactions to drive the story.

Hela, played by Cate Blanchett, is one of the best Marvel villains thus far. Hela feels that she has been wronged and unfairly blamed and is absolutely ruthless. Blanchett plays her with such intensity.

Tessa Thompson plays Valkyrie and instantly became one of my new favorite characters in the MCU. Her onscreen presence literally steals every scene she is in. She plays the character with such confidence and swagger. 

Mark Ruffalo as Hulk is once again phenomenal. I can't get into too much detail without giving away too much but a lot has changed in the time we last saw Hulk at thee end of Age of Ultron until now. Playing both Hulk and Bruce Banner, Ruffalo's performance reaches another level as he is literally playing two completely different characters. His interactions with Thor are some of the best, if not the very best interactions in the MCU.

Tom Hiddleston as Loki is back and just as mischievous as before. There is still good inside Loki but clearly he still has his issues with Odin and Thor.

All the characters play against one another to perfection. All of them have a need to show their superiority to one another and in the end lead to an amazingly entertaining movie. This is the Thor movie we have been waiting for and will bring Thor to the top of the Marvel characters. His team-up with Hulk will be tough to beat. If this is the trend for the future of the MCU, then keep it coming Marvel.

“THOR: RAGNAROK” WORLD PREMIERE PHOTOS

In Hollywood, stars Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett and Mark Ruffalo were joined by director Taika Waititi and producer Kevin Feige for a walk down the red carpet where they greeted enthusiastic fans at the world premiere of Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok.”

 Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok” opens in U.S. theaters November 3.

Disney Cinderella on DigitalHD, DMA and Blu-ray Combo Pack 9/15

“Believe in Magic” – Claudia Puig, USA Today

DISNEY’S BELOVED AND EMPOWERING FAIRYTALE TOLD
IN A NEW BEAUTIFUL AND MAGICAL WAY

CINDERELLA

ON BLU-RAY™ COMBO PACK, DIGITAL HD AND

DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE on September 15, 2015

Over 12 Minutes of Additional Scenes, Including an Alternate Opening,

 Plus the “Frozen Fever” Theatrical Short!

SYNOPSIS:                           Celebrate Disney’s “Cinderella,” a modern classic that shines with beauty, imagination…and magic! Despite being mistreated by her stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and stepsisters, a spirited Ella (Lily James) resolves to take charge of her fate. Add a royal ball, a Fairy Godmother (Helena Bonham-Carter) and a glass slipper, and suddenly – magic becomes reality!

CAST:                              Cate Blanchett as Stepmother (“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring”), Lily James as Cinderella (TV’s “Downton Abbey”), Richard Madden (TV’s “Game of Thrones”) as Prince, Stellan Skarsgård (Marvel’s: “The Avengers,” “Thor”) as Grand Duke, Holliday Grainger (“Jane Eyre”) as Anastasia, Derek Jacobi (“The King’s Speech,” “Underworld: Evolution”) as King, and Helena Bonham Carter as Fairy Godmother (“Alice in Wonderland,” “The King’s Speech”),

PRODUCERS:          David Baron (“Harry Potter” franchise), Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Days of Future Past,” “Sherlock Holmes”), Allison Shearmur (“The Hunger Games,” “Power Rangers”)

DIRECTOR:                      Kenneth Branagh (“Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit,” “Thor”)

COMPOSER:                     Patrick Doyle (“Brave,” “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”)

SCREENPLAY:                  Chris Weitz (“About a Boy,” “The Golden Compass”)

RELEASE DATES:            September 15^th, 2015

PRODUCTS:                      Digital HD/SD, Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA), Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD, and On-Demand

BONUS:                                   Digital HD/SD*, Blu-ray Combo Pack & Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA)

·       A Fairy Tale Comes to Life Filmmakers and cast reflect on Cinderella’s enduring power, and the joys and challenges of bringing this iconic tale to life.

·       Costume Test Fun See the work of Academy Award-winning® Costume Designer Sandy Powell (The Aviator, 2004) and share some lighthearted moments with the cast.

·       Staging The Ball

·       You’re invited behind the scenes for the making of the Palace Ball sequence, including its spectacular set, stunning costumes and more. It’s a lavish and massive undertaking…and a magical day on set.

·       Ella's Furry Friends

·       Discover how the movie’s animal stars honed their memorable performances.

·       Alternate Opening: Ella's Childhood

·       View moments from Ella’s idyllic childhood that do not appear in the movie. With an introduction by Director Kenneth Branagh.

·       Frozen Fever It’s Anna’s birthday, and Elsa and Kristoff are determined to give her the best celebration ever – but when Elsa catches a cold, her powers may put more than just the party at risk.

*Digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer       

DMA Exclusive:

·       Deleted Scenes

With introduction by Kenneth Branagh

o   Serving (0:56)

o   The Mourning (4:24)

o   Getting to Know You (2:00)

o   The Search for Cinderella (1:14)

o   Dear Kit (2:57)  

DVD:

·       Ella's Furry Friends

·       Frozen Fever

FEATURE RUN TIME:    Approximately 105 min.

RATING:                             Feature Film: PG in U.S.; G in CE/CF

ASPECT RATIO:               Blu-ray Feature Film = 1080p High Definition / 2.39:1

                                               DVD Feature Film = 2.39:1

AUDIO:                                Blu-ray = 7.1 DTS

                                               DVD = 5.1 Dolby

LANGUAGES:                     English, French & Spanish

SUBTITLES:                       English SDH, French & Spanish

SOCIAL MEDIA:                Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cinderella

                                                      Twitter: https://twitter.com/CinderellaMovie

                                                      Tumblr: http://cinderellapastmidnight.tumblr.com

                                                      Instragram: https://instagram.com/disneycinderella

                                                      Cinderella We Heart It: http://weheartit.com/disneycinderella

                 

ABOUT DISNEY MOVIES ANYWHERE (DMA):

Disney Movies Anywhere (DMA) is an engaging and family-friendly cloud-based digital movie service that makes it simple to buy your favorite Disney, Pixar and Marvel movies once and watch them anywhere.  With DMA you can explore Disney’s library of over 400 eligible digital movies, discover hours of new and exclusive short-form content, and watch your digital movies from the comfort of the living room or across multiple mobile devices.   In addition, you can redeem Digital Copy codes found in Disney, Pixar and Marvel Blu-rays and DVDs, as well as earn Disney Movie Rewards points with every digital purchase.  Sign up and access Disney Movies Anywhere for free on DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com and through the Disney Movies Anywhere iOS and Android apps. Users can then simply connect their iTunes, Google Play and/or VUDU at VUDU.com/DMA accounts to begin enjoying their Disney, Pixar, and Marvel digital movie collections across platforms and devices. 

ABOUT THE WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

For over 90 years, The Walt Disney Studios has been the foundation on which The Walt Disney Company was built. Today, the Studio brings quality movies, music and stage plays to consumers throughout the world. Feature films are released under the following banners: Disney, including Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios; Disneynature; Marvel Studios; Lucasfilm; and Touchstone Pictures, the banner under which live-action films from DreamWorks Studios are distributed. The Disney Music Group encompasses the Walt Disney Records and Hollywood Records labels, as well as Disney Music Publishing. The Disney Theatrical Group produces and licenses live events, including Disney on Broadway, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

Watch the First Trailer for Disney's Live-Action Cinderella directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh!

Have courage and be kind. Watch the brand new trailer for Disney’s Cinderella, starring Cate Blanchett, Lily James, Richard Madden, and Helena Bonham Carter. See the film in theatres March 13, 2015.

The story of "Cinderella" follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella's father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother's dying words and to "have courage and be kind." She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella's hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and -- armed with a pumpkin and a few mice -- changes Cinderella's life forever.

Website: http://www.disney.com/Cinderella
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Cinderella
Instagram: http://instagram.com/disneystudios
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DisneyPictures

DISNEY'S LIVE ACTION "CINDERELLA" BEGINS PRINCIPAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN LONDON

Starring Lily James, Richard Madden, Academy Award^®-winner Cate Blanchett and Oscar^®-nominee Helena Bonham Carter and Directed by Academy Award®-nominee Kenneth Branagh

Burbank, Calif. (September 23, 2013)—Walt Disney Pictures announced today that principal photography has begun at Pinewood Studios in London, on “Cinderella,” Disney’s first-ever live action feature inspired by the classic fairy tale.

Directed by Academy Award^®-nominee Kenneth Branagh (“Jack Ryan,” “Thor”), the film stars Lily James (“Downton Abbey,” “Wrath of the Titans”) in the title role, Richard Madden (“Game of Thrones,” “Birdsong”) as the Prince, Oscar^®-winner Cate Blanchett (“The Aviator”) as the infamous stepmother Lady Tremaine, and Academy Award-nominee Helena Bonham Carter (“The King’s Speech,” “Alice in Wonderland”) as the Fairy Godmother. Holliday Grainger (“Great Expectations,” “Anna Karenina”) and Sophie McShera (“Downton Abbey,” “Waterloo Road”) play Ella’s stepsisters Anastasia and Drisella, respectively. Stellan Skarsgård (“The Avengers,” “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”) and Nonso Anozie (“Game of Thrones,” “The Grey”) play the Arch Grand Duke and the Prince’s loyal friend, the Captain. Tony® Award-winner Derek Jacobi portrays the King.

“Cinderella” is produced by Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: First Class,” “Elysium”), Allison Shearmur (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), David Barron (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” “Jack Ryan”), from a screenplay by Chris Weitz (“About a Boy,” “The Golden Compass”).

The filmmaking team includes three-time Academy Award-winning production designer Dante Ferretti (“The Aviator,” “Hugo,” “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”), three-time Oscar-winning costume designer Sandy Powell (“The Aviator,” “The Young Victoria,” “Shakespeare in Love”), director of photography Haris Zambarloukos (“Sleuth,” “Thor”) and Academy Award-winning editor Martin Walsh (“Chicago,” “Clash of the Titans”).

The timeless story of “Cinderella” dates back to 1697 when first created by Charles Perrault, although it truly came to life for millions all over the world in 1950 with Walt Disney’s celebrated animated feature.

Director Kenneth Branagh says: “It is impossible to think of Cinderella without thinking of Disney and the timeless images we’ve all grown up watching. And those classic moments are irresistible to a filmmaker. With Lily James we have found our perfect Cinderella. She combines knockout beauty with intelligence, wit, fun and physical grace. Her Prince is being played by Richard Madden, a young actor with incredible power and charisma. He is funny, smart and sexy and a great match for Cinderella.”

The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella whose merchant father remarries following the tragic death of her mother. Keen to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother Lady Tremaine and her daughters Anastasia and Drisella into the family home. But, when Ella’s father suddenly and unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who abuse her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an employee at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears as if her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming “Kit.” Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand as a kindly beggar woman steps forward and, armed with a pumpkin and a few mice, changes Cinderella’s life forever.

Production on “Cinderella” will take place at Pinewood Studios and locations throughout England.

“Cinderella” will be released through Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures on March 13, 2015.